Actually Madame knew everything that Antonello did, because although Antonello’s nephew Galeazzo di Sanseverino was Captain General of the Armies of Milan, Madame had been intercepting all of Galeazz’s letters to his uncle, none of which had revealed any state secrets. Still, there was the possibility that Galeazz used a code.
“When it comes to concealing his intentions, no man is more skilled than Il Moro.” Antonello smiled sardonically.
Madame lifted her heavy, already high and inquisitive eyebrows. “Il Moro has written us to ask that my brother agree to the investiture of the Duke of Milan with the privileges of the Duchy of Genoa.” Madame’s puckered lips relaxed slightly, wryly. “Curious, is it not, Monseigneur Antonello, that when Il Moro asks a single question, a dozen answers are required? With this request Il Moro warns me that he could as easily turn to the German Emperor and ask for his nephew’s formal investiture with the privileges of Milan, which is an imperial fief. Perhaps he intends to do so even if I agree. Or perhaps he sincerely desires our friendship and intends to solicit our help in crushing Naples should he wish to usurp his nephew. And with that done, then Il Moro might invite the German Emperor to invest him as the new Duke of Milan, turn all Italy against our army while it was still occupied in Naples, while at the same time the Germans marched into Paris. Or perhaps Il Moro merely intends to wage peace on Europe and use his considerable treasury to configure the map to his liking.” She paused and her dour eyes flickered. “The real question is not to what extent II Moro intends to deceive us but to what extent Il Moro wishes to deceive himself.
“Monseigneur, I intend to deliberate upon this matter at greater length,” Madame said, snapping her gaze back to her bewildered brother. “When I have drafted a reply to Il Moro, I will of course expect you to sign it.” With that Madame abruptly turned and exited the room.
His Most Christian Majesty retrieved his lance and desultorily poked at the capon carcass. Finally he looked up morosely at Prince Antonello. “Perhaps we can interest Il Moro in our Crusade,” he mumbled, then shuffled back to his bed and placed his oversize head facedown in his mistress’s lap.
CHAPTER 7
Extract of a letter of Polissena Romei, matron of honor to the Duchess of Bari, to Eleonora d’Este, Duchess of Ferrara. Milan, 2 March 1491
. . . her husband accords her the utmost cordiality and good will, and no effort has been spared to provide her with amusements and pleasures. Today Messer Galeazz has taken her fishing to Cussago. . . . One does not hear the end of the accolades devoted to your daughter’s horsemanship, Your Highness. . . .
Extract of a letter of Giacomo Trotti, Ferrarese ambassador to the Court of Milan, to Ercole d’Este, Duke of Ferrara. Milan, 10 March 1491
... on the occasions on which he visits the Gallerani woman in her rooms, he proceeds there as brazenly as if he were progressing to the Duomo on Easter Sunday. The situation is manageable at present, but I have grave concerns about what may ensue once the child is born. I suspect that Il Moro intends to have his bastard christened publicly and upon that occasion acknowledge the child as his own. The possibility also exists that your daughter will create an incident in the general view. While she at times appears melancholic, her eruptions of temper are sudden and violent. She has bruised poor Fritello, her dwarf. The company of Il Moro’s daughter relieves her despondency, but the girl is too frail to ride or accompany Madonna Beatrice on her many excursions. The Duke and Duchess of Milan have been in Pavia since early February, but Madonna Beatrice is going there tomorrow. We can expect no cordiality in those relations, either. . . .
Il Moro has not had a response from the French. . . .
Pavia, 11 March 1491
The spires and cupola of the
“When it comes to concealing his intentions, no man is more skilled than Il Moro.” Antonello smiled sardonically.
Madame lifted her heavy, already high and inquisitive eyebrows. “Il Moro has written us to ask that my brother agree to the investiture of the Duke of Milan with the privileges of the Duchy of Genoa.” Madame’s puckered lips relaxed slightly, wryly. “Curious, is it not, Monseigneur Antonello, that when Il Moro asks a single question, a dozen answers are required? With this request Il Moro warns me that he could as easily turn to the German Emperor and ask for his nephew’s formal investiture with the privileges of Milan, which is an imperial fief. Perhaps he intends to do so even if I agree. Or perhaps he sincerely desires our friendship and intends to solicit our help in crushing Naples should he wish to usurp his nephew. And with that done, then Il Moro might invite the German Emperor to invest him as the new Duke of Milan, turn all Italy against our army while it was still occupied in Naples, while at the same time the Germans marched into Paris. Or perhaps Il Moro merely intends to wage peace on Europe and use his considerable treasury to configure the map to his liking.” She paused and her dour eyes flickered. “The real question is not to what extent II Moro intends to deceive us but to what extent Il Moro wishes to deceive himself.
“Monseigneur, I intend to deliberate upon this matter at greater length,” Madame said, snapping her gaze back to her bewildered brother. “When I have drafted a reply to Il Moro, I will of course expect you to sign it.” With that Madame abruptly turned and exited the room.
His Most Christian Majesty retrieved his lance and desultorily poked at the capon carcass. Finally he looked up morosely at Prince Antonello. “Perhaps we can interest Il Moro in our Crusade,” he mumbled, then shuffled back to his bed and placed his oversize head facedown in his mistress’s lap.
CHAPTER 7
Extract of a letter of Polissena Romei, matron of honor to the Duchess of Bari, to Eleonora d’Este, Duchess of Ferrara. Milan, 2 March 1491
. . . her husband accords her the utmost cordiality and good will, and no effort has been spared to provide her with amusements and pleasures. Today Messer Galeazz has taken her fishing to Cussago. . . . One does not hear the end of the accolades devoted to your daughter’s horsemanship, Your Highness. . . .
Extract of a letter of Giacomo Trotti, Ferrarese ambassador to the Court of Milan, to Ercole d’Este, Duke of Ferrara. Milan, 10 March 1491
... on the occasions on which he visits the Gallerani woman in her rooms, he proceeds there as brazenly as if he were progressing to the Duomo on Easter Sunday. The situation is manageable at present, but I have grave concerns about what may ensue once the child is born. I suspect that Il Moro intends to have his bastard christened publicly and upon that occasion acknowledge the child as his own. The possibility also exists that your daughter will create an incident in the general view. While she at times appears melancholic, her eruptions of temper are sudden and violent. She has bruised poor Fritello, her dwarf. The company of Il Moro’s daughter relieves her despondency, but the girl is too frail to ride or accompany Madonna Beatrice on her many excursions. The Duke and Duchess of Milan have been in Pavia since early February, but Madonna Beatrice is going there tomorrow. We can expect no cordiality in those relations, either. . . .
Il Moro has not had a response from the French. . . .
Pavia, 11 March 1491
The spires and cupola of the
Similar Books
